Drawing on its management reserves, Richemont has selected a Cartier veteran to take the helm of its elite handbag-maker Delvaux.

Yanina Novitskaya becomes chief executive officer of Delvaux on Dec. 1 and reports to Philippe Fortunato, CEO of Richemont’s fashion and accessories maisons. She will be based at Delvaux’s headquarters in Brussels.

A graduate of Moscow State University of Design and Technologies, Novitskaya has spent the last 19 years at Cartier, Richemont’s flagship jewelry brand, accruing increasing responsibilities in Russia, Ukraine and CIS countries before being named CEO of Cartier in southeast Asia and Oceania four years ago.

“Yanina’s strong knowledge of the luxury industry will be instrumental in leading Delvaux into its next chapter, further strengthening its distinctive positioning and continuing to drive product desirability and international growth,” Fortunato commented in a release shared exclusively with WWD.

Novitskaya lauded Delvaux’s “remarkable heritage, distinctive savoir-faire, and a unique creative identity.”

Founded in 1829, Delvaux is considered the oldest luxury leather goods house in the world, the first to file a patent for leather handbags in 1908, and one of the first luxury goods firms to introduce seasonality into its collections in the 1930s. It has been an official supplier to the Belgian royal court since 1883, and boasts a meticulous archive of more than 3,000 styles, all patented.

Its bestselling, top-handle Brillant model was first unveiled in 1958.

Novitskaya succeeds Jean-Marc Loubier, the brainy, energetic executive who masterminded the rejuvenation and global expansion of Delvaux in the 2010s. The proportion of sales generated outside of Belgium increased from 3 to about 85 percent.

He returned for a second stint as CEO five years ago after Richemont acquired it from First Heritage Brands, and further bolstered its elite positioning and world-class manufacturing.

Loubier, as CEO of First Heritage Brands, had held a minority stake and has maintained a deep affection for the brand and belief in its international potential.

During his first tenure, the brand pushed into China, South Korea and Japan, and multiplied its store count fivefold, opening flagships on New York’s Fifth Avenue, Bond Street in London and the Palazzo Reina in Milan.

An industry veteran, he previously worked at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton for 16 years, including 10 as executive vice president of Louis Vuitton. He went on to become the CEO of fashion houses Celine and Escada.

In Monday’s release, Fortunato thanked Loubier, “who has transformed Delvaux into a global luxury maison while strengthening its unique identity, rooted in its exceptional craftsmanship.”

It is understood the management handover was carefully planned, and at least a year in the making. Loubier is expected to exit Delvaux at the end of the year after a thorough handover period.

His next move could not immediately be learned.